1540. Jerusalem, the City of Peace

Jerusalem, the City of Peace

"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord" (Psa_122:1).

For a few moments we will consider the quest of the open window. Daniel was looking toward Jerusalem when he prayed. He did not open his window to behold the marvels of Babylon, although Babylon contained much worthy of any one's vision.

Babylon was the city of which Nebuchadnezzar said, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built, for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?" (Dan_4:30).

Although Jerusalem did not contain the hanging gardens, the mammoth and magnificent buildings of Babylon, yet, Jerusalem was the city toward which Daniel looked and for which he prayed. Let us examine some of the Scriptural statements concerning this city.

1. Jerusalem, the city of God's delight. Jerusalem is called the holy city. Jerusalem is called, "the joy of the whole earth." Jerusalem is "the city of the Great King." Jerusalem stood next to the heart of God. The city of Babylon with its glory was doomed to destruction and decay; the city of Jerusalem is sure to revive and to rejoice.

2. Jerusalem, the city of the Gentile's displeasure. It is to be expected that the city which the Lord loved, the world would despise. Jerusalem, from the very beginning, has been hated of the nations. Today, it is trodden under the feet of the Gentiles.

Our Lord wept over the city, and said, "The days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another" (Luk_19:43-44).

Again the Word of God says: "Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled" (Luk_21:24).

3. Jerusalem, the city of the Prophets' dream. The city toward which Daniel looked, was the same city towards which all other Prophets looked. "Beautiful things of thee are spoken, O Jerusalem, the city of the King." We should "pray for the peace of Jerusalem." God has said, "They shall prosper that love thee." "Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces" (Psa_122:6-7). The Lord shall yet lift up His face towards Jerusalem. For Jerusalem's sake He will not rest, "Until the righteousness thereof goes forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: * * Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God" (Isa_62:1-3).

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR